Device for truing collector rings of rotary converters



Nov. 21, 1933. o. L. LuF-r DEVICE FOR TRUING COLLECTOR RINGS OF ROTARY CONVERTERS Filed April 17, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 A? Win/x2966 Nov. 21, 1933. Q L, LUFT 1,935,805

DEVIGE FOR TRUING COLLECTOR RINGS OF ROTARY CONVERTERS Filed April 17, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 l I I Patented Nov. 21, 1933 UNITED STATES DEVICE FOR TRUING COLLECTOR RINGS OF ROTARY CONVERTERS Oliver L. Luft,

St. Louis, Mo.

Application April 17, 1931. Serial No. 530,765 6 Claims. (01. 51 '24,4)

proved device capable of easy attachment to the brush box studs of a rotary converter in order to grind the rings to approximately perfect annular form while the rings are being operated at normal speed. Itis desirable to bring the grinding device into contact with the peripheries of the V respective rings while the rings are operating at approximately normal speed because the peripheral locations of the rings may vary somewhat when the rings are rotated at slower speeds.

My invention comprises a device forsupporting a grinding stone in a definite position and for mechanically pressing the stone with uniform pressure against the peripheries of the respective collector rings which rotate at normal speed, with the definite result that the peripheries of the respective rings are ground off in the form of approximately perfect circles, which result cannot be obtained when the grinding stone is held and pressed manually against the peripheries of the rings whether the machine is operating at normal speed or at slower speed than normal.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device designed and adapted for easy and convenient attachment tov the brush box studs of a rotary converter and for use and operation to perform the grinding work more perfectly and speedily than is now possible by devices of other construction. 7

Various other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a portion of a rotary converter having my invention in connec-- 40 tion therewith. I

Fig. 2 is an inner side elevation of my device.

Fig. 3 is a reduced side edge elevation of the device.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged longitudinal'sectional view of the device.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the device opposite from the side elevation of Fig. 3.

The rotary converter, a part of which is shown and in which my present invention is mounted for use, comprises a frame 1 having the rotary rings 2 mounted therein and rotated in the familiar manner.

The brush boxes 3 are detachably secured on supporting studs 4, so that the brushes carried by the boxes 3 press against and contact with the peripheries of the rings 2.

I utilize the studs 4 as supports for the device of the present invention, so that it is only necessary to remove a few of the brush boxes 3 from the studs 4 on which said brush boxes are mounted in order to make room for this device.

My improved device comprises a bracket 5 5 formed with a pair of parallel spaced sockets or bearings}; designed and adapted to receive two adjacent studs 4 from which the brush boxes 3 had been removed. Clamping set screws 7 are screwed through threaded holes in the walls or the socketsor bearings 6 and are designed and adapted to be operated and adjusted to obtain and maintain clamping engagement with the studs 4 in order to secure the device in rigid connection with the frame of the rotary converter opposite the rings 2 upon which it is desired to operate. 7

.A. frame member 8 is rigidly attached to the bracket 5 by screws 9. These screws 9 project through holes in the end 10 of the bracket 5 and are screwed into threaded holes in the frame 8 and tightened in order to hold the frame 8 in rigid relationship abutting said end 10 of the bracket 5. The frame 8 has in its under side a groove 11. The frame for supporting the grinding stone comprises a wall member 12 having in a one side a dovetail groove 13 matching the dovetail tenon 14 on the frame 8. The walls 15 forming the side walls of the groove 13 have sliding engagement with the tenon 14. A strip 16 is located between one of the walls 15 and the adjacent wall of the tenon 14 and is engaged by the pointed ends of screws 17 mounted in threaded holes in said wall 15. These screws and this strip constitute means for maintaining proper adjust ment of the parts whereby the frame that supports the grinding stone is supported for sliding movements along the rigid frame.

v The frame for supporting the grinding stone also includes a metallic member comprising an outer wall 18 and side walls 19 and 20 extending from integral connection with said wall 18 against the sides of the'wall 12. The walls 19 and 20 are attached to the wall 12 by series of screws 21 passing through said walls 19 and 20 and having screw threaded engagement in holes in the wall 12.

The grinding stone 23 is mounted in this frame, seating against the walls 12 and 18, and pressed against a spacer block 22 bearing against the 110 wall 20. Abutment screws 24 are screwed through holes in the wall 19 and have their inner ends engaging one side of the grinding stone 23 and pressing the same against the block 22. The grinding stone 23 has its inner end provided with a transversely convex wall 25 having the same radius of curvature as the rings 2. By releasing the screws 24, the grinding stone 23 may be adjusted in different positions so as to compensate for wear at the abrading end thereof.

An actuator for the frame supporting the grinding stone comprises a screw threaded member 26 having at its outer end a circumferential shoulder 27 beyond which a cylindrical portion 28 projects in axial alinement with the member 26. The cylindrical portion 28 projects through a bearing 29 that is detachably secured to the frame end member 8 by screws 30. The shoulder 27 abuts against the inner side of the bearing 29 and an abutment element 31 attached to the part 28 abuts against the outer side of said bearing and thus permits rotation of the screw member 26 and at the same time prevents longitudinal movements of said member. The member 26 extends into and along the groove 11 and is screwed through an internally threaded hole through a boss 32 formed integral with the central portion of the wall 12.

The invention is applied to the frame of a rotary converter by removing the brush boxes 3 from the required number of studs 4. As shown in Fig. 1, the brush boxes 3 have been removed from three of the studs 4, two of said studs 4 being extended through the sockets or bearings 6 and the removal of the brush boxes from the remaining .stud 4 providing room for the adjacent end of the grinder. While the converter rings are rotating at normal speed, the crank 33 that is attached to the outer end of the screw elongation 28 is manipulated and controlled effectively to move the arcuate end 25 of the grinding stone against the converter ring and to hold the grinding stone in proper adjustment, so that the converter ring rotating at normal speed will be ground almost to a perfect circle. This grinding operation is effected automatically and as an incident to the operation of the converter and grinds the converter rings while the shaft and the converter rings are in their normal positions and are operating normally. An even pressure is maintained. Due to the rigid mounting of the grinder frame on the converter frame and the accurate control of the grinding stone, it is impossible for the grinding stone to follow deeply into the ring surface so as to produce an eccentric formation on the periphery of the ring. On the contrary, the grinding stone being held positively in whatever position and adjustment it is placed, it follows as a necessary consequence that the ring rotating at normal speed is truly ground to almost a perfect circle. The operation is more speedy than is'possible by other methods and better and more precise results are obtained.

The construction, arrangement and formation of the device may be varied within the full scope of equivalent limits without departure from the nature and principle of the invention. I contemplate such variations as may be necessary to adapt the invention to its intended uses.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: I

l. A device of the character described comprisinga supporting bracket having a pair of parallel sockets for receiving an adjacent pair of the usual rigid brush box studs of a rotary converter, a member rigid with one end of said bracket, a frame, and means for supporting said frame in connection with said member for sliding movements to and from the periphery of an adjacent collector ring of the converter.

2. A device of the character described comprising a supporting bracket having two parallel sockets for receiving an adjacent pair of the usual rigid brush box studs of a rotary converter, means in connection with said bracket for supporting a grinding stone for movement toward and from the periphery of an adjacent collector ring of the converter, and means for moving said grinding stone as aforesaidduring the timerthat 5 said bracket is mounted on said usual rigid brush box studs.

3.A'device of the character described comprising a supporting bracket, means for securing said supporting bracket on anadjacent pair of the usual rigid brush box studs ofa rotary converter, a device supported by said bracket for supporting a grinding stone for movement to and from the periphery of an adjacent collector ring of the converter, and means for moving said 5 grinding stone as aforesaid while said bracket is mounted on said studs. I

4. A device of the character described comprising a supporting frame, means for securing said supporting frame on an adjacent pair of the usual rigid brush box supporting studs of a rotary converter, a grinding element mounted in said frame, and means supported by said frame for moving said grinding stone toward and from h the periphery of said adjacent collector ring of the converter during the time that said frame is mounted on said studs.

5. A device of the character described comprising a rigid supporting bracket, means for securing said supporting bracket on an adjacent pair of the usual rigid brush box supporting studs of a rotary converter, a frame supported by said bracket for movement toward and from said adjacent collector ring of the converter, a grind- M ing stone mounted in said frame and extending beyond the end thereof that is toward said collector ring, and means supported by said bracket for moving said frame toward and from said collector ring as required to move said grinding stone into and out of engagement with said collector ring.

6. A device of the character described comprising a supporting frame, means for securing said supporting frame on an adjacent pair of the usual rigid brush box studs of a rotary converter, 13;; means for supporting a grinding stone by said 0 frame, and a rotary device supported by said frame for moving said grinding stone toward and from an adjacent collector ring of the converter while said supporting frame is mounted on said studs.

OLIVER L. LUFT; 

